The Washington Center Experience
Hannah
Experience Information
Employer: Karl, Wigodsky, Norwind, Kudel, & Gold, P.C.
Job Title: Legal Intern
Major: Political Science
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: No
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
The law firm is a firm that practices law in DC, M.D., and VA. The firm has a couple different offices within the state's it practices in. The firm focuses on areas of law such as personal injury, automobile/truck accident, brain injury, medical malpractice, and so on. The office I interned in focused primarily on personal injury and automobile/truck accidents.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
I was tasked to locate balanced on clients accounts, look up the expense report for each, request bills and medical records, request lien breakdowns from insurance companies, check on status of personal injury protection, draft documents for the requests I made, and at times speak with clients. I was also given the opportunity to sit in on different court dates, help prepare for trial, sit in on new client meetings, and sit in on pre trial or settlement meetings.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
During this experience, I learned to be more confident when speaking with other professionals. I also learned to be more professional when speaking on the phone. This experience required me to be confident and be assertive when speaking with people so that I receive the information I need, and therefore I slowly improved on the skill throughout the course of the internship. But most importantly, I learned how a personal injury law firm works before litigation (if the case makes it to litigation), during litigation, and during the settlement process (whether it is after the case made it to litigation or if the case never even made it to litigation).
Favorite Part of the Experience
I really enjoyed learning about how law firms collect information for the legal process and sitting in on different meetings and court dates. However, most important to me was my overall experience. I was able to live in the nation's capital for an entire semester. The city is amazing. I now have lifelong friends and connections that are now willing to help me enhance my career. There is so much to experience in the diverse city of Washington, DC.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
Through my experience, I believe I have become more open minded about the path I hope to take in the legal field later on. I have also become more open about my future educational paths. This experience made me more confident about my decision to become an attorney.